Virtues and Vitamins - My Health Journey

         




Hello - my name is John.
This publication is a mini sequel to my Memoir. I continue on my pilgrimage in the town of my dreams where I am advancing in discoveries concerning my wellness.


I want to tell you about my health journey. I believe that my pilgrimage in this area is relevant to many people and therefore highly beneficial. I want to say from the out-set that I do not hold any medical degree, but I do hold the gift of observation and the genuine passion for health matters. Any advice given in this publication is genuinely proven to work for many people, but if you are in doubt, check with your health care professional first.
Personally, I have been careful not to become too much of a health fanatic, but have instead remained balanced. I believe that in any area of life, we must be balanced in our view and propagation of an idea. I do not hold to the extreme of Vegetarianism and as you shall see I do not hold any longer to the extreme of a junk food diet. The middle path is my path, and I hope therefore to entice you to walk alongside me in the comfortable knowledge that you won't be asked to take too big a leap into unknown territory.

My Early Health Status


In my childhood, I grew up on a dairy farm and enjoyed a balanced diet. My mother was terrific in the kitchen; baking, roasting, frying, stewing, and faithfully preparing our school lunches. We kids each had our favourite sandwich spread: My older brothers liked Jam and Honey; my sister liked Vegemite and I pigged out on Peanut Butter. I mention this because it has relevance to the story later on, but suffice it to say here that during these years, I suffered from symptoms which were physically uncomfortable, but thankfully not disabling. One more point that I wish to note here is that when I arose from bed to start the day before 6:30 am, then by 4:30 pm, I would be absolutely exhausted.

These are the symptoms. See if you have any of these:
- Pressure in the head, headaches, stiff neck
- Fatigue, aching joints
- Dulled concentration
- Sore, tired eyes, dark patches under eyes
- Dull skin tone, dandruff
- Sore tongue/mouth on occasions

These symptoms stayed with me in varying degrees through my teen years and into my twenties and thirties. Being an adult Kiwi male, I just carried on regardless and oblivious to the fact that I should seek medical advice from a practitioner and find a solution to these thorns in my side. In my early adult life, I worked zealously and I had a kamikaze attitude to my health status. May-be you have the same mind-set today - this is why I am writing this publication - for people like us!

As a young man I could get away with abusing my bodily systems but there comes a time in middle age where this abuse catches up and forces one to investigate the whys and wherefores of health. What we sow in our youth, we shall reap in our middle years. In my early thirties it got to the stage where I could not even read a page of a book before my eyes gave way to pain. I was rising up to go to work at 5:00am and come 4:00pm, I was good for bed and staying in for the evening. I had pressure in the head, tenseness in the shoulders and sore eyes.

My diet mainly consisted of quick and easy meals such as:
- Processed noodles, pasta's, processed meats, processed snacks and drinks
- Frozen meats and vegetables
- Wheat based foods, such as cereals, bread, pasta, biscuits, etc
- Take-a-ways
- Sugary foods
- Foods which contain Gluten and Soy

I want to note here that I was and am a clean living person, seeking virtues and avoiding many of the prominent vices known in our society, such as, alcoholism, narcotics and smoking nicotine - and yet for all that I still suffered with these disorders. So why would that be? The answer is laid out below in this publication.
I hope that as you read this it will switch on a light for you concerning your own experience with similar infirmities. The steps outlined below are remedies which are sure to benefit everyone who adopts the advice given. You may vary within the given framework a little, but it is advised to follow the prescribed path in this publication toward optimum nutrition and health.  

Step 1 - Alignment of the Spine

During my early thirties, I travelled all over the North Island in a mobile home. I stayed in motor-camps and used their facilities to cook along with other happy campers. It was a go, stop lifestyle. While I was in the lower north island, I met a man who practised the art of chiropractic manipulation. I told him about my ailments. He convinced me to let him take an x-ray of my back and we discovered that my vertebrae were out in about three places. There were two vertebrae fused together in my neck region. After a number of chiropractic sessions, I was good to go! The pressure in my head was relieved; my eyes were less bother-some. In the years that followed I booked myself in for sessions with chiropractors wherever I happened to be in my travels around the country.  I learnt a lot from chiropractors, just by asking questions and experiencing their different methods of spinal manipulation. Here is what a visit to a clinic will entail:

- A chiropractor will x-ray your spine to ascertain its condition and curve: a healthy spine will have a slight curve
- A chiropractor will ask questions about lifestyle and give advice about correct posture
- A chiropractor will manipulate misplaced vertebrae in the spine back into correct alignment and free up space around the nerves which nestle in that region.

About 50% of the symptoms of discomfort that I mentioned before were caused by nerves being pinched by misaligned vertebrae in various places down my back. I need to enlighten you to the fact that just because you might not feel sharp back pain; it does not mean that vertebrae are not misaligned in your spinal column. Vertebrae can sit silently misplaced and pinch on nerves for years, causing certain bodily discomforts and like me you just put up with these things because you don't know any better at the time. When people tell me their ailments today, I now know exactly what they are describing - I communicate this part of my story to them and do you know the usual response that I hear? They say, 'Oh the pain will be gone tomorrow, I'll be right as rain in a day or two'. This is typical (and I admit it was also my response in the past). Of course this response is not acceptable - you and I must pursue optimum health today.

If misplaced vertebrae are not seen to and continue as such for years, then their restricting action on the local nerve group can eventually cause organ failure. Think of it this way - you are watering your garden with the hose and part of the hose become crimped: the water flow is restricted- this is what happens to the nerve signals to organs situated in your body - the affected organ (heart, liver, lungs, etc) operates at a diminishing efficiency until it finally gives up the fight. Unfortunately for you and the tax-payer, this usually means a long stay in a hospital. The sad thing here is that the patient still is not told the truth about why their organ failed. The western medical system which is geared around money making will prescribe artificial drugs to combat the symptoms and prop up the failing organ while all the time denying the fact that those long-time misaligned vertebrae actually caused the mishap.

In my mid thirties I settled down in a fantastic town in the lower North Island. I booked myself into the local chiropractic clinic as was my custom, but I eventually became disillusioned with the chiropractic treatment because I was handing over good money for no permanent fix. For instance, my neck would go out within 5 days of a visit and I would be uncomfortable again. It was about this time that this same chiropractor recommended I go see a physiotherapist, to which I gladly complied, and after a few sessions, I came away even more disappointed.

It was about this time that I booked myself in with another practitioner to try a therapeutic massage - wow! I knew that I had hit on the best one here. The method of massage was called Thai Massage - where one lays on a mattress on the floor and the masseur stretches limbs, squeezes and rubs the back with healing ointments. Pressure points are released with deep tissue massage in the lower back, between the shoulder blades, shoulders and neck. My masseur began with checking that the hip is in alignment and then carries out about 7 minutes of reflexology before moving up the spine with practised efficiency. The results are long term relief. I continue to go back once a month for a tune-up on my back.

The supremacy of Thai massage is that it:
- Deals with all three - bones, tendons and muscle
- Re-aligns vertebrae gently and naturally
- Releases pressure points and eases tense tendons
- Rubs muscle fibre with healing ointments to reduce swelling and spasm
- Moves lymph through the lower body to expel it

An alternative to this aforementioned method, is the conventional method of massage which is also highly recommended. This method has you laying on a specially built table/bed and mainly focuses on the spine region. When you book yourself in to see a masseur, it is recommended that after a few sessions, to ask your practitioner to practice deep tissue massage and to pay particular attention to the pressure points in the upper hip region. You will discover that most back problems begin with the hip going out of alignment and from there the tension travels up the spine to the cranium, thus producing headaches.

I also made slight changes to my diet and lifestyle at this time too, such as:
- New Spectacles to help with my eye health
- No coffee - to alleviate headaches from caffeine
- Warm fresh lemon drink every morning
- Keeping life simple: no huge debt or relationship complications
- Simple stretching exercises



Step 2 - A Naturopath Visit

One day I saw an advertisement in a local newspaper about a Naturopath and the services offered. The headline ran 'Restore Your Youthful Energy'.  Tired of my constant beleaguered state, I booked myself in for an hour long consultation. The practitioner surveyed my diet and lifestyle, made recommendations for change, carried out a physical inspection of my nails and eyes (iridology) and advised me to have a system detoxification. I went away and followed the recommendations religiously for the next 12 months before returning for a review. The practitioner was extremely pleased at the difference that she saw in me and heartily advised me to continue on the same path. I went through another detoxification program at this time too (More about detoxification coming up later).

The detail of what the practitioner first advised me on is this:
- To avoid as much as possible processed and sugary foods
- To eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit
- To increase my pure water intake
- To eliminate as much as possible foods with Gluten and Soy in them
- To take a detoxification program

This is the detail of what I did at home:
- I began to purchase fresh vegetables, whereas in the past I had bought frozen vegetables. I used a veggie steamer to cook the vegetables to seal in the natural goodness and flavour.
- I began to eat more fresh fruit
- I eliminated as much as possible processed foods such as noodle packs, pasta packs, microwavable dinners and the like, plus sugary foods such as biscuits.
- I increased my pure water intake by purchasing a bench top water filter.
- I eliminated as much as possible foods with Soy in them such as peanuts and peanut butter (hence the earlier reference). Gluten found in wheat based products was also carefully monitored. In the west this is difficult to do since our staple diet is wheat based. Rice has become a good alternative. I tried lentils and bean mixes, but they did not seem to agree with my system, so I have stayed with rice as the base to my diet.
- I went through a detoxification program which I purchased at the health store. This is a combination of natural nutrients provided either in powder, pill or liquid form which when taken daily for about 10-14 days will flush stale faeces out of the bowels and harmful toxins out of the kidneys and liver. 


The results in the first year were noticeable:
- Pressure in the head, headaches, stiff neck - REDUCED
- Fatigue, aching joints - REDUCED
- Dulled concentration - REDUCED
- Sore, tired eyes, dark patches under eyes - REDUCED
- Dull skin tone, dandruff - REDUCED
- Sore tongue/mouth on occasions - REDUCED

A Naturopath is someone who follows nature's path in regard to health matters. A visit to a Naturopath is a vital step to take to take control of your health status. Book yourself in to have a consultation which will generally last an hour. If you have recurring health issues, stubborn weight problems and always feel lethargic? Then you may have food intolerance. Food intolerance is a type of food that your system cannot agreeably deal with and digest. The manifestation of allergy to certain types of food is different for people - each person has to find out for themselves what foods cause their system to flare up with symptoms such as white marks on their brittle fingernails, irritable bowel syndrome, dark patches under the eyes, acne, dandruff, fatigue, eye sensitivity to light, headaches, weight gain problems and many others.

Gluten intolerance is more common in the West than people realize. Gluten is a protein in wheat which some bodily systems have difficulty processing and as a result can react adversely to it giving rise to many common ailments. The official name given to this condition is Coeliac Disease. For more information, check out this website of the Coeliac society of New Zealand  (orgran.com) from our Free Links service on the Tools page.

Other common food intolerances are:
- Soy as in peanuts
- Dairy foods - cow's milk and cheese.
- Eggs

My recommendation is that the first step to optimum health is a visit to a Naturopath to determine if and what your system is allergic to in regards to food and drink. By getting on to this early, the Naturopath can detect and prevent many conditions before they worsen to chronic status. Symptoms are just your body telling you that all is not well in and under your skin. Listen to your body. As you progress with me on this health journey, you will benefit from a keen sensitivity to your body's internal voice, telling you what foods it does and doesn't like. For instance when I first went over to fresh vegetables my body was leaping in anticipation of this new taste sensation. Conversely, when I partook of Fish and Chips one evening, my body let me know that it was not happy with the saturated fat intake. Listen to your body!

In the East, people have had centuries of practice listening to their internal system and knowing that the body is its own best doctor. In the West, we who think we are so forward are actually backward in this area of expertise. Thank goodness for so many beneficial drugs available in the West, but today, many western doctors and drug companies are deliberately geared toward throwing artificial drugs at the symptoms of sickness instead of at the root causes - why? -  Because money is to be made with repetitive sales of artificial drugs to shroud the symptoms for a short season. That's why.

I advise the reader to take note of this and think it through for themselves. Are you throwing away your hard earned wage on man-made drugs which deal to the symptoms of your illness?  If yes, why not re-think your health status today and make a change to follow the natural path toward optimum nutrition and health. Your body is natural - it came from the ground and it will go back to the dust - therefore it makes common sense that it craves for natural nutritional solutions to prevent and heal itself of disease. It does not make sense to reply solely upon artificial solutions to remedy health complaints, like for instance in the area of cancer treatment where people consent to allow poison and radiation to be pumped into their system. Western drug companies rely upon panicked and gullible people to sign on the dotted line to have poison pumped into their already compromised immune system. Who exactly is the dope here?



What is your ailment? Is it a heart condition, blood pressure complications, diabetes, cancer, asthma? Whatever it is, the immune system is already struggling to rectify the disturbance and needs natural aids in the battle, but instead we tend to pop more pills into an immune system which is beleaguered, causing adverse side-effects. Why side-effects? Because the body is lacking in natural nutrients and these artificial drugs are deleting nutrients and messing around with the systems hormonal balance. That's why!

I am not saying that we should completely abandon western medicine and adopt eastern medicine, but I am saying that:
- We have to listen to what our body is telling us through the symptoms
- We have to re-think how we are spending our money in our personal health budget
- We have to use common sense to realise that our body is a natural organism and therefore will respond better to the natural way

The Naturopath, who will advise on how to follow nature's path, is therefore an important step to take toward optimum nutrition and health.
 

View links to Health sites in the Free Links service on the Tools page of this site

Step 3 - A Detoxification Program

As a result of the Naturopath visit, I went through a detoxification program which I purchased at the health store. This is a combination of natural nutrients provided either in powder, pill or liquid form which when taken daily for about 10-14 days will flush stale faeces out of the bowels and harmful toxins out of the kidneys and liver.  The results were noticeable after a few days such as:
- Being able to think clearer and feel cleaner
- Energy took a rise
- A more positive perspective on life
 
I researched the matter further and came up with the following:
The digestion system is a major system underlying a person's health status. Keeping the digestive system clean is crucial to our overall health and vitality. Food digestion in the colon is aided by millions of microscopic friendly natural bacteria. There are about 8 main strains naturally residing in a healthy gut. Digestive enzymes and micro flora are essential to break down and absorb the food that we eat and convert nutrients into substances which trigger important functions and into energy to power the systems of the body. Enzymes and micro flora are abundant in infant's bowels, but as we grow we can lose the right amount and balance of each through over-consuming processed foods, stress or artificial drug intake - our natural level of friendly bacteria can take a hit.

The friendly micro-flora in the colon also work hard to keep unfriendly strains of bacteria at bay - if the balance swings to the unfriendly side, then ill health usually results - the typical symptoms of which are as follows:
- Uneasy digestion/difficult passage of food
- Headaches
- Fatigue/listlessness
- Aching joints
- Poor skin condition
- Food allergies
- Depression
- Poor memory/concentration
- Acne

Concerning Acne - acne on certain areas of the body can suggest a fault in an internal system:
- Acne on the forehead = imbalance in intestinal tract
- Acne on the shoulder = imbalance in intestinal tract
- Acne on the cheeks = imbalance in lungs/breast area
- Acne on the upper chest & back = imbalance in lungs/breast area
- Acne on the mouth = imbalance in sexual area

Faecal stools also tell us signs of internal imbalance:
- Stick stools = liver imbalance. Too much mucus in system/not enough fibre in diet
- Smelly stools = stale food stuck in colon. Detox is required
- Undigested food in stool = not chewing properly
- Light coloured stool = deficient in essential fatty acids
- Hard pellet stools = Congested liver. Detox required
- Runny stool = spleen exhausted. Detox required

- Itchy bottom: Worms/parasites in the digestive tract/food allergy/straining during excretion
- Difficulty in peeing = imbalance in bladder and kidneys
- Excessive peeing = Low kidney energy/excessive sugar consumption
- Dark circles under the eyes = weak kidney performance/food allergy
- Sore tongue = deficiency of Iron, B6, Niacin and Folic Acid - poor digestion

A detoxification program is recommended because it is said that by middle-age there is over a kilo of stale faecal matter stuck in the colon. This lining of the colon walls hinders efficient absorption of fresh food matter passing through. This matter causes gas, bloating and sluggishness. In simple words, the system needs to be flushed through.
It is important to make sure that food moves steadily and regularly though the colon - this is essential for optimum health and the avoidance of many common diseases. The digestive system is linked to the mind and affections of the person. If a person is continually stressed and depressed, then the absorption rate will be greatly diminished. A mantra to keep life simple is essential for the processing of the food that we eat. Too many people are programmed to think that they have to follow the rigorous path through life:
- Work 45+ hours a week
- have a spouse and family
- be tied to a mortgage and take out life insurance
- Keep up with the Jones next door with the latest gadgets
- Catch a bus/train to commute to the city centre for work

The above list is there to stimulate the reader to consider their lifestyle and to make changes if necessary. Get back to the natural world in whichever way that one can - feel the breath in nature again - breathe it in deeply and learn to relax the systems of the body. Go for a walk on the beach, traverse a gentle hill or stroll in a bush clad parkland. Meditate on the positive aspects of one's life, count ones blessings and take time out.

With the detoxification program it is recommended to drink about 4-6 glasses of pure water a day and for this practice to become an on-going habit. I recommend that one buys a water filter to achieve this purpose. The water consumption prevents dehydration of the body and colon and helps cleanse the kidneys of toxins.

Fibre is important in the diet to ensure that waste material is moved efficiently through the colon and not left in the system too long. Most fibre comes in our diet from wheat bran (breads and cereals) fresh vegetables and fruits. Water and fibre combined are excellent for the digestive system as it ensures the easy consistent flow of faecal matter and it encourages the presence of friendly bacteria in the colon.

A course of Pro-bio-tics is recommended after a complete flush of the digestive system. This course involves taking capsules containing strains of friendly bacteria (usually one capsule a day for a month = 30 caps). Actively supplying an abundance of good bacteria helps your intestinal tract to remain healthy by creating conditions that are unfavourable to unfriendly bacteria. With a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, one should be free from allergic reactions to common foods, gain energising blood and enjoy an efficient immune system. Add to these benefits the fact that these wonderful natural bacteria help the body manufacture vitamins B6, B12, K, Folic Acid and Biotin, and one can't go wrong.

I followed these two courses (detoxification and pro-biotic) with amazing results, such as:
- Expelling of stale faecal matter
- Easy and regular passage of faecal matter
- Being able to think clearer and feel cleaner
- Energy/vitality took a rise
- Enhanced immunity
- A more positive perspective on life

I read up about this subject and discovered these tips:
- Drink liquids 20 minutes before a main meal, not during the meal
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly
- Take an enzyme supplement to aid proper digestion

 

Step 4 - Supplements

Following naturally on from looking after my bowel system, I now turn our attention to taking supplements in addition to a healthy diet. In my health journey, I have taken supplements and found them very beneficial. Supplements mainly come in pill form and are easy to take anytime, anywhere. Supplements can be purchased from any health store or supermarket health isle. There are a wide variety of nutrients which can be purchased to prevent and deal with any health matter. I have found supplements powerful agents to strengthen and help heal my aforesaid ailments. I recommend that the reader try the supplements that I have tried and proven to work and then after that to experiment with other types. The supplements that I have tried and proven are as follows:

- Super vitamins and minerals
- Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea
- Odourless Garlic, Zinc and Echinacea
- Pro-biotics
- Omega Oils
- Sleep-Ezy (soothing herbs in a tablet)


Generally supplements supply what may be lacking in a diet with the following:
Vitamins:  A, B, C, D, E, K

Minerals:  Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Iodine, Manganese, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, etc

Herbs: Echinacea, Chamomile, Valerian, Hops, Garlic, Cascara, Elderflower, Slippery Elm, etc                             

With a supplement program treat the multi-vitamin/mineral supplement as your programs foundation. Build upon this foundation as you diagnose your ailments and add further supplements to increase the level so as to prevent and heal any ailment. For example:
- If you are lacking in energy, add a Vitamin B complex and also Vitamin C
- If you want improved concentration, add Omega 3
- If you want increased immunity, add a Garlic, Echinacea and Zinc complex
The stockist of supplements can also give advice on a program which fits your health needs.
Most supplements are best taken just after a meal, but some are to be taken on an empty stomach or just before bed-time - The reader can research this matter further.

Why do we need to take supplements? Don't we get our vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet of purchased vegetables and fruit? The answer if we live in the west, is no, not really. The constant use of artificial fertilisers on crop land has over the decades depleted most trace elements to a low level in our soils. Any crop grown and harvested is therefore deficient in the nutrients that we need. Then the harvested product is put through a hardy industry process to convert it into the bottled, canned or bagged foodstuff that we purchase in the super market.  Artificial preservatives are pumped into the manufactured foodstuff to preserve its shelf life. How much of the goodness do you think is left in the product by the time it comes onto your plate at home? With fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh is best, the fresher the better. If the produce you purchase has sat for a week before you eat it, chances are it has lost a lot of its wholesomeness.

Some produce is packaged into plastic containers and transported via the supermarket to your kitchen table. One of the proposed reasons for the current cancer epidemic is the widespread use of plastic to store and transport moist products - plastic leaches into a moist foodstuff over time. Next time you are in the supermarket, note how much food is stored in plastic and particularly note how the meat is packaged in the butchery section.

Another reason why people need supplements is when one leads a hectic, stressful or vice-full lifestyle with a junk food diet. Extra nutrients are required by the system to keep up with the physical and emotional demands.

Some people say that supplements don't work for them. Have you heard this said? I would like to say that before my health journey, I agreed with the statement. I did try supplements in my twenties and found that they did not really seem to do much, so I stopped spending my money on them. Today they work really well - what's the difference? I would like to suggest a few reasons:

1: Supplements don't work well with the modern western diet and lifestyle. We have already touched on this point previously, but I will note it again. The typical Western diet is like what I have described for myself in the introduction of this publication. Fast food, junk food, processed food, canned food - these terms portray the typical Western diet today. This kind of diet plugs up the bowels with gunk and over decades of abuse creates a picture where one becomes desensitized to what their body is feeling and the signals that are attempting to be sent. Generally speaking, people are in the habit of not listening to their body speaking and telling them what it likes and does not like. They are so gunged up and used to feeling blue that they cannot register any good that supplement pills can do in them. Supplements cannot do much good in such a system as the gunk outweighs the benefits of the supplement. The obvious answer to this is to implement step 2 and 3.

 2: In the above point we used the term, 'gunged up' to express the idea that the body cannot read and send accurate messages because of allergy and inefficiency - but now we address the other side of the coin which is that such a nutrient depleted diet is unable to stabilise the health of the bowel system - supplements pass through the colon too quickly to be absorbed sufficiently. The West has a wheat based diet - look around your supermarket and note how many products are wheat based. It may shock you. A wheat based diet is responsible for many health ailments today, with many people being gluten intolerant. Gluten is a protein in wheat that the body finds difficult to process, which damages the villi in the colon and which causes dreariness of the mind and body.

I made a switch of diet bases in my health journey and have never looked back. I don't mean to say that you must avoid wheat altogether, that may prove impossible in the West - but I do mean that your diet base should be carbohydrates, such as rice and pasta. A high carbohydrate diet is the idea diet for supplements to work efficiently. A high carbohydrate diet of rice and pasta slows the steady movement of food through the bowels, aiding thorough digestion of food and supplements. It is here that supplements work well.
 
So with these two discoveries I now gain the most from supplements and experience their advanced power to aid me in the marathon demands made on me each work day. Supplements cost money but they deal with the root of the problem which is a deficiency of active nutrients in the system. If the reader is the bread-winner for the family, there is the tendency to say that the spouse and kids come first and I spend money on them first - this is an erroneous mind-set and must be changed. One must think long-term and realise that the bread-winner must gain and be maintained in optimum health for the benefit of the family. Money spent on obtaining optimum health is the family's health insurance in real terms and should be the first priority. People spend money on artificial drugs which deal with the symptoms quick enough - my advice is to make the switch from artificial to natural and go for optimum nutrition and health for the benefit of the whole family.

Step 5 - Important Diet Changes

Following on about carbohydrates, I would like to add more to the equation for optimum nutrition. If you are like me, having fast metabolism, you now know that you need to change from a wheat based diet to a high carbohydrate diet in order to function efficiently every day. Since I have made the switch, I now wake up in the morning rearing to go instead of sluggishly rising. I will inform you that when I have toast for supper an hour before retiring for bed, my sleep is uneasy and I wake up with slight fatigue. When I have a cup of cooked plain rice before retiring, I wake up sustained and well rested. The rice has given me a head start for the work day ahead in which I also have carbohydrates on my lunch plate and dinner plate as well. The professionals advise that half a mealtime plate should be carbohydrates with the rest in vegetables and meat. For athletic demands this carbohydrate ratio can be increased to two thirds of the plate.

The key thought here is to fuel the body! To fuel the body's cells is a key to achieve an optimum health status. Following this path will mean a decrease in muscle aches and pains, injury sprains, tenseness in the shoulder area, headaches and fatigue. Some people say that carbohydrates add fat to the body. Well, ok but it is good fat as in it forms a storage layer easily accessible to the body when it faces gruelling stressful challenges. Some fat is good; not all fat is bad. Fat that is stored under the skin is natural - this acts as insulation against the cold and as a ready supply for endurance needs. The fat that is bad is the saturated fat which comes mainly from a high red meat diet and that can begin over long term to clog the arteries - known as a high cholesterol condition.

A person like me has a high metabolism rate, which means that the food I eat is processed and the energy is burned off quickly by the body's natural functions. People like me have to fuel the system and a bit of fat in storage under the skin is a good thing. Everybody needs fuel reserves within reasonable limits.

Why this is so important is that if a person's body has no fat reserves the system can draw on in times of need, and is deficient in nutrients and energy reserves on a daily basis, then the body has no choice but to draw nutrients and energy from other internal reserves such as the digestive system, immunity and cell restoration (anti-aging). This is a poor status to be in and is a key reason for ailments and organ failures in later life. People who abuse their health in this manner will age beyond their years with wrinkled face and skin, grey dull hair, impotency and memory loss. How common is all this in the West today?

Add to this scenario, vices and you have a lethal mix to work against a good health status. Each time a vice is partaken of it diverts nutrients from vital functions and deletes virtue out of the system. Each cigarette, each draft of beer, each intake of an artificial drug causes the build-up of toxicity in the system and the flushing out of essential vitamins - little by little, day by day, vices are a slow killer. People think that they are getting away with their favourite vice and that life is a ball, but when they come to middle age they finally see the fruit of their misspent youth and mourn regretfully.  

One also notices that those who regularly engage in a vice lose their appetite. Smokers of nicotine, takers of narcotic drugs, alcoholics all spring to mind in this regard - and it shows in their faces with wrinkled skin, dull grey hair and scalloped lips. A reduced appetite speaks its own story about what that would mean to the proper functioning of bodily systems.

So we have seen that the natural way is the best path through life for the body and the supernatural way is the best path for the health of the soul, that is to follow virtue rather than vice. If one can seek to identify and then eliminate vices from their lifestyle, it will go a long way toward achieving the health status that they want. The challenge to be faced is the love of that favourite vice - it is the love of it that needs to be mortified before one can hope to gain an advantage over the vice.
You and I must continually see that vices are detrimental to us as people who want to be wholesome and enjoy an abundant life. Each time a person engages in a vice it:
- Diverts nutrients away from vital functions
- Deletes goodness from the system
- Adds toxins to the system
- Adversely affects our personal confidence
- Affects how we relate to others
- Foils the plans for a productive day
- Soils our conscience

This should be enough to convince even the hardest of us that vices destroy and ruin one's quality of life, not enhance it, and that virtues grant a higher quality of life. Let us therefore seek to soar on the winds of moral excellence. Carbohydrates for the body and virtue for the soul is therefore the target to aim for.

Carbohydrates aid the body in recovery after physical exertion as all the systems are well supplied with glucose in the blood stream. The metabolism is levelled out and a steady supply is given to each cell of the body. This is achieved by a high carbohydrate diet through the main meals of the day and evening. My main hot meal is at noon - this is consistent with the practice of many people's around the globe and makes perfect sense, if you understand the body's mechanics. The main meal should be at midday to fuel the systems for the work ahead and not in the evening when the body wants to gradually shut down for sleep. The professionals say that we should graze through-out the day, like cattle in a paddock. This is the natural way. Medium sized meals throughout the day give a steadier stream of energy, levelling out the metabolism rate.

In between meals one can partake of healthy snacks whether in cereal bar form or as loose nibbles. And let's not forget fruit as a healthy snack, delivering to the body vitamins, minerals and enzymes. It is strongly advised that the reader converts from artificial additive filled snacks like potato crisps and biscuits to the healthy, natural snack solutions to appease one's appetite. These healthy alternatives to junk food snacks can be found in the Produce and Bulk food isles of any local super-market.

What we find in the West though is a travesty in this matter, where people:
- Eat the main meal in the evening (this is against the natural rhythms of the body)
- Gorge themselves in one heavy meal
- Stuff themselves with sugary foods and saturated fats
- Boil the hell out of their vegetables
- Rely heavily upon their market produce to supply the right level of vitamins 

Eating a heavy wheat based diet with sugary foods and saturated fats will give a fluctuating metabolism rate - the up and down levels of energy during the day. Fatigue when we require get-up-and-go and vitality when we want to go to sleep are the result of such a typical diet. Add to this equation the absolute travesty of such people then spending money on artificial drugs to deal with the symptoms of listlessness and insomnia - the stupidity of the merry-go-round is complete. We must be smarter than this and advance to follow the natural way of eating a diet that grants consistent metabolism to fuel the whole body throughout the day.

Moving on - there are other changes that I have made to my diet. Perhaps you may like to adopt these changes for yourself. The next change that I made is to stitch from normal tea beverage to drinking herbal tea of various flavours and combinations. The catalyst for this was the need to reduce my white sugar intake. The professionals agree that white/refined sugar is not good for the bodily system as it causes havoc with the blood/sugar levels in the body. Herbal teas are natural products, containing no artificial sugars or additives. They come in a variety of combinations, so if one does not agree then try another. Some say that too much herbal tea is no good for you, especially the green tea. I usually limit my daily intake to about 3 cups maximum. Herbal teas infuse into your cup of hot water (no milk or sugar required) and give a boost to your system. The herbs in the teas each stimulate a particular function of the partaker's body. Some tea combinations help with relaxation while others containing Ginseng give a boost for the work day.

A few years into my health journey I learnt the importance of not consuming beverage during a meal. If you think about it, if one drinks during a meal, then as far as the stomach is concerned you are living on soup.  The digestive tract needs solids and fibre to work at its best - this is not achieved when one drowns their hot meal in liquid refreshment. Today, I drink a cuppa about 20-30 minutes before a meal - this prevents dehydration and allows the liquid to be processed before the solids enter the gut. I noticed a gradual but decisive change in my digestive ailment when I coupled this practice with step 3.

Another area where I use herbs is in my cooking. I buy mixed herbs - herbs like Rosemary, Sage, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley and Basil. Rosemary helps with cell renewal and memory. The other aforementioned herbs taken daily will help fight cancer and will lower blood pressure. Using more herbs and spices and less sugar, salt and fat can help improve the overall health benefits and flavour of the foods that we eat every day. Instead of salt, use common herbs like Oregano, Parsley or Basil to bring out the natural flavours in a meal. The herb, Garlic is classed as a super food, packed full of goodness for helping maintain the immune and reproductive systems. Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme and Basil can help fight colds and flu. All three are powerful antioxidants, which mean that they help purify the body of toxins. The Curcumin in curry and Turmeric have inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and warming effects upon the blood/body. Ginger can reduce nausea and soothe stomach upsets. Spices like Nutmeg and Cinnamon can replace refined sugar in one's diet.

I sprinkle dried herbs on to my vegetables during the last five minutes of the steaming process. I use a steamer to cook my vegetables as this process locks in the goodness, the naturalness of the food. On the naturopath's advice about consuming fresh vegetables, I purchased an electronic steamer that works with a timer to start and end the cooking process. This means that I can walk away and do another chore while the food cooks to perfection, and oh the taste is just like it has come out of the ground. I strongly suggest that the method of boiling vegetables in a stovetop pot is to be done away with immediately and replaced with steaming the vegetables. The steaming times for various vegetables can be found in the instruction booklet that comes with the purchased steamer, but in short:
- Bottom tier basket - denser vegetables such as Carrots and Pumpkin
- Middle tier basket - vegetables such as Potatoes, Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Top tier basket - leafy vegetables such as Cabbage and Silver beet


I planted a vegetable garden to aim for fresh vegetables and planted some of the above mentioned vegetables. You may like to try this as well, if you do not already have a garden. As well as the vitamin packed food you will reap, to put ones fingers in the dirt is the natural way of living. To get back to nature is healthy for the body and soul. Breathe in the fresh air, feel the sunlight on your back and listen to the birds and bees. This therapeutic exercise is free!

Back in the kitchen, I have reduced my use of the microwave and have instead purchased and heavily use a Convention Oven to cook my meat. A Convention Oven is a large bowl shaped device with racks inside and a lid that contains a heater element and a fan. It works like a fan oven, but sits on a bench-top. This small device is superior to the wall oven as its small size means less warm-up time, quicker cooking time and less electricity used. It is also so easy to clean.

Professionals in the health industry will usually frown upon microwave use as during the cooking process, the device radiates the food from the inside out, distorting the complex makeup of the food and the taste thereof. The microwave is in question about whether it is a cause of cancer in the West.

For rice cooking, I use the electronic steamer and with white rice, it usually takes 30 minutes to produce wholesome steaming rice ready to go - and it cooks while I am off doing other activities.

One last big change that I have made to my diet is in the area of fruit intake. Like many, I was not inclined to partake of much raw fruit. I am not a raw salad/fruit kind of person. I like my food warm and cooked. Still I knew the importance of fruit intake. I tried an alternative for years, eating some fruit, usually at warmer times of the year, and also eating fruit out of a can.

During my health journey, I have purchased a bench-top juicer/blender which processes raw fruit into a juice or as I like it into a smoothie. I add plain or vanilla flavoured, lite yogurt into the mix of fruit to make a delicious smoothie. I am careful not to over-blend the mix as I want to preserve the valuable enzymes in the fruit - I need those enzymes to aid my digestion of food. I have my smoothie after I have my morning wash and at least 30 minutes before I eat a meal. The value of this beverage is that it immediately rebuffs the dehydration of the sleeping hours and sets me up for the day to come - I feel good!

I have some Smoothie tips in the last chapter.


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Step 6 - Relax the Systems


Each step in this health journey is a major key in achieving optimum health and relaxing the bodily system. Each step connects with another and together they stand. To leave out one step is to cause a minimizing of results. Every step works towards the calming of the body and soul. To relax the bodily system is the foundation of a good health status. Below I have listed a number of ways to relax your body and soul - you may think of additional ways to unwind in life.

1: A good healthy diet. When speaking about this matter we cannot go past fresh produce and meat, prepared, cooked and consumed to provide the complete array of nutrients required to fire the chemical actions and fuel the muscles. As we have previously discussed, it is important to fuel the body - so that all systems are charged and are able to dispel tension. A muscle that is fatigued from lack of fuel means that the tissue holds tension - tension draws energy away from other vital internal processes which in turn is detrimental to renewal and wellbeing.

2: Keep life simple. Going for a daily walk in the garden, park or shoreline is beneficial. Breathe in that fresh air; fill the lungs and breathe deeply. Meditate on the present experience and take time out to mull over who you are and where you are at in life. Avoid huge debt; as much as possible pay cash as you go. Eschew a mortgage if you are unable to bear its pressure for 25 years. Weigh up for yourself whether it is right for you to go into mammoth debt to secure a property investment for retirement years or to keep your money freed up so that you can travel, up skill and enjoy life. Be yourself and take your own path through life.

3: Massage and Reflexology. We have already discussed massage in step one. This is a popular method of releasing tension from the muscular system. One can also use Reflexology. Reflexology is where pressure points in the feet are released. The feet are a map of the body - each segment relates to a part of the body and tension released here will trigger an easing off in the related part of the body. Equally soothing is to invest in a foot bath - oh the pleasure! Plug the foot bath in to the power outlet and with warm water, Epsom salts or some other relaxant just sit back and let the bubbles do their good work. Even better is to fill up your bath tub with warm water, Epsom salts, bubble bath and sink back with a good book.

4: Deep breathing exercises. Deep diaphragm breathing is another way to ease stiffness, invigorate the blood and increase lung capacity. Choose a form of exercise that appeals to you and that you fall in love with. I am not keen on exercise that pounds the body and puts shuddering pressure on the joints. I am involved in a form of exercise that is soft and gentle, yet effective. The main thing about the exercise that you choose is that it gets your blood moving, tones your body and engages deep diaphragm breathing.

5: Inspiration. From a good exercise program and keeping life simple, you will find that inspiration comes easily. Inspiration thrives in an environment of ease, where the mind and conscience are clear. You will be able to express your gift most effectively by following my advice in this health journey. I am able to feel my talent flow when I am relaxed and free from burden and debt. For me this also means keeping my space from people who will be a liability to me and joining with people who will benefit me in life. People who show respect to my adulthood are welcome in my space. I don't need to put up with those who have angst against me - life is too short for that. My main goal is to protect the simplicity of life and relationships so as to have a free flow for my inspiration and channelling of my gifts.

Every human being needs to express their special gift and vent themselves in following after their dream. A blockage in this area of expression is a common reason for built up frustration, anger and tension in the body and in relationships. It is therefore essential that one deals with obstacles and blockages to their expression - this is essential to achieving optimal health.  Deep breathing exercises allow inner emotional and physical tension to be released with the out-breath. The result is clearer thinking and a more relaxed approach to the challenges in life. Laughing is a good way to expel inner stiffness.

6: Elimination of vices. The elimination of vices from one's life cannot be over stated in its importance in aiming for good health. Vices work against the correct functioning of the internal systems and speed up the aging process. The path of virtue is the way to walk if one wants to relax their body and soul. A clear conscience and positive mind is part of the health make-up. To be soft hearted, forgiving those who offend and humble enough to confess our own faults is good for inner and outer longevity.

7: The seven steps. I would like to repeat that following these seven steps in this health journey will work together to produce amazing results in the life of one who adopts them as a long-term program. The reader has liberty to move sideward's within the framework, but it is advised to stay with the main framework in the quest for great health.

I would like to suggest three more ideas to relax the bodily systems which are:
- Natural candles - lighting a candle that gives off a natural soothing fragrance for evening close down
- Herbal tea - choose a flavour combination that relaxes the stomach and bodily systems
- Sleep-Ezy - a natural supplement that is taken one hour before bedtime and that helps one sleep soundly

Step 7 - Some Amazing Natural Products

There is a principle in the universe that if one seeks for light and acts on the light given, that one will receive more light and so on and on, with new discoveries. This is so true in my health journey, as these fascinating insights into health have come to me in moments of passivity. I have chosen to follow the natural path and I would like to present some amazing natural products in this step.

Colostrum is the first product available on the market which I have tried and proven to be beneficial to my health status. Colostrum or a mother's birth milk contains millions of immune antibodies which transfer her built up immunity to her baby. Cow colostrum is over ten times richer than human colostrum in antibodies which protect and prevent many common illnesses, and it is this milk powder that is on the market (also in tablet form). Colostrum contains many growth factors, anti-aging, cell repair qualities and it aids muscle growth and tone. Users of colostrum report improved skin appearance, bone density and endurance. There is also the disappearance of stomach problems, asthma, allergies, impotency and age spots. Body builders report that colostrum is the best muscle building aid to take.
In summary, Colostrum is excellent in the areas of immunity, growth and muscle tone.

The next amazing natural product is Colloidal Silver. Colloidal means finely dispersed in liquid. Silver is a trace element found in the juice of fruits and vegetables. Our body requires silver for a healthy immune system. Artificial fertilisers used on crop land are causing our soils to become depleted of trace elements like silver.  Colloidal Silver is a natural antibiotic - it kills germs, viruses, bacteria and fungi. Colloidal Silver can be taken internally and externally to prevent and heal many common illnesses. It is an excellent skin healer. Look at some of the ailments that this product can be used for - it Prevents and Heals:
Colds and Flu, Bronchitis, Infections, Hay Fever, Shingles, Sore Eyes, Bladder Infection, Rash, Fatigue, Thrush, Tooth Ache, Glue Ear, Dandruff, Acne, Bad Breath, Eczema, Arthritis, Ear Infections, Allergies, Nappy Rash, Skin Blemishes, Asthma, Mouth Ulcers, Burns, Leukaemia, Boils, Mild Skin Cancer and much more.

These products and more are available at your local health store, and though the financial price may be up there, they work and they deal to the root of the ailment and there are no serious side effects. If it comes down to the difference between Western or Eastern, artificial or natural, dealing with the symptoms or the root - then it is a no-brainer where best to spend your money.

What's ill with western medicine? Western medicine is based on repeat consumerism - dealing with the symptoms so as to maintain repeat business. In the area of cancer treatment we see the use of chemicals and radiation which cost money, line the drug companies pockets and aren't all that effective. There are natural products which nature has provided that do just as good a job without the horrible side-effects.

There is a huge market for Viagra, sold to western men who probably don't realize that both Colostrum and Colloidal Silver do the job equally well. Add to this Garlic or any high sulphur food stuff and one has a formidable mix.

Dentist charge the earth to do teeth whitening, and toothpaste containing chemicals is sold for profit, when a humble natural solution like Colloidal Silver is cheap and unsurpassed for producing bright white teeth.

The short of it is that in western society, only one message is being promoted and backed by the major sponsors - that is the path of artificial drugs for profit. I have become a convert and advocate for the alternative way, and this is the message that I would like to promote through telling my story.

I recommend a company who personally prepare a range of health products such as:
- Colostrum - antibodies for immunity and growth
- Colloidal Silver - nature's antibiotic
- Easy Lax - a mild herbal bowel aid
- Probiotics - for healthy digestion
- Omega3 - for joints, skin and eye health
- Protecting/healing herbs and minerals to combat cancer
- Super vitamins/minerals

This is the company's website - healthhouse.co.nz 

Another amazing natural health product is Spirulina. It has been advertised for decades but I have only just added it to my supplement program and it works well, even replacing other products in my kit. Spirulina with alfalfa and kelp is a super food and is available at a reasonable price. Check out the healtheries website for more details - healtheries.co.nz (look under products/energy).

My health journey has been both a necessity and a desire for the best status for body and mind. It has all worked well. I have the youthful energy and vitality restored as promised by the Naturopath. Below are the original symptoms of discomfort and they are all reduced and resolved.

The results today are noticeable:
- Pressure in the head, headaches, stiff neck - REDUCED/ RESOLVED
- Fatigue, aching joints - RESOLVED
- Dulled concentration - RESOLVED
- Sore, tired eyes, dark patches under eyes - RESOLVED
- Dull skin tone, dandruff - RESOLVED
- Sore tongue/mouth on occasions - RESOLVED


View links to Health sites in the Free Links service on the Tools page of this site

Facts and Tips for Optimum Health

I would like to encourage the reader to do further research into this vital topic of optimum nutrition so as to be armed with knowledge - knowledge is power - power to change one's life and destiny. There are plenty of books and internet site's which give information about this subject. I have listed a few health sites in my Free Links service on the Tools page of my website. I would like to continue the thought of my health journey with giving a brief run-down on my daily program of nutrient intake and good practice. The reader may adjust the program to fit their schedule.

- Rise from bed and wash
- Fruit Smoothie
- 5x Colostrum tablets and 1x Vitamin C supplement
- Muesli breakfast

- I drink filtered water and partake of light health snacks between meals if a bit peckish

- Lunch is hot with carbohydrates, fresh vegetables and meat
- 1x capsule of super Vitamin/Mineral supplement

- For dinner, a hot meal with carbohydrates, vegetables and meat (dinner meal can be lighter than the lunch meal)

- Supper - small bowl of plain rice
- 2 x Sleep-Ezy supplement one hour before retiring to bed
 

Now let me repeat my run-down on how I use the steamer, convention oven and fruit blender: On the naturopath's advice about consuming fresh vegetables, I purchased an electronic steamer that works with a timer to start and end the cooking process. This means that I can walk away and do another chore while the food cooks to perfection, and oh the taste is just like it has come out of the ground. I strongly suggest that the method of boiling vegetables in a stovetop pot is to be done away with immediately and replaced with steaming the vegetables. The steaming times for various vegetables can be found in the instruction booklet that comes with the purchased steamer, but in short:
- Bottom tier basket - denser vegetables such as Carrots and Pumpkin
- Middle tier basket - vegetables such as Potatoes, Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Top tier basket - leafy vegetables such as Cabbage and Silver beet


I have reduced my use of the microwave and have instead purchased and heavily use a Convention Oven to cook my meat. A Convention Oven is a large bowl shaped device with racks inside and a lid that contains a heater element and a fan. It works like a fan oven, but sits on a bench-top. This small device is superior to the wall oven as its small size means less warm-up time, quicker cooking time and less electricity used. It is also so easy to clean.

For rice cooking, I use the electronic steamer and with white rice, it usually takes 30 minutes to produce wholesome steaming rice ready to go - and it cooks while I am off doing other activities. I measure the rice into the supplied bowl and dampen the rice with a little water before setting on to cook.

I purchased a bench-top juicer/blender which processes raw fruit into a juice or into a Smoothie. I add plain or vanilla flavoured, lite yogurt into the mix of fruit to make a delicious Smoothie. I am careful not to over-blend the mix (about 40 seconds mix time) as I want to preserve the valuable enzymes in the fruit - I need those enzymes to aid my digestion of food. I have my Smoothie after I have my morning wash and at least 30 minutes before I eat a meal. The value of this beverage is that it immediately rebuffs the dehydration of the sleeping hours and sets me up for the day to come - I feel good!

Ideas about fruit for the Smoothie are:

1x Banana, peeled, scrape off the stringy bits, chopped up
1x Kiwi Fruit pulp
1x Pear, peeled and diced
1x Lemon, juice only
1/2 an Avocado pulp
1/3 of a 1kg Yoghurt tub

That's about it for one Smoothie, blend together and pour into a large mug, add a little boiled water to heat up the drink just a tad, stir and consume.
One can use the imagination and local seasonal fruits to create drinks that also include:
1x Apple, peeled and diced
10x Blueberries
1x Mandarin, peeled and pips removed
Berries


I was given this recipe for a fresh lemon drink to combat flu:
1x lemon with skin on, chop into slices into a pot
Add 1x stick of cinnamon and 1x crushed clove
Simmer for 10 minutes, strain into a cup and add honey and drink


So that is my health journey thus far with many more discoveries to make in the years to come I am sure.
May you follow the path of Vitamins for the body and Virtues for the soul and find the optimum rainbow's pot of gold.
Below I have listed some facts and tips for optimum nutrition and health which I hope will whet the reader's appetite to research more deeply into this topic:

- Wake up with the sun naturally, eat a hearty breakfast and engage in deep breathing exercises to ready the body for the day
- Graze light meals through the day with fresh fruit in between meals - fruit is fast releasing sugar to top up the reserves
- It is best not to eat fruit/desert immediately after a heavy meal as the fast fermenting desert is held up in the digestive tract by the slower moving carbohydrates
- Don't eat late at night or before you are fully awake in the morning
- Lightly cooked, steamed and raw foods retain the vitamins and enzymes necessary for digestion of that food
- Notice which foods make you feel good and which foods sap your energy away within 24 hours of consumption, and take appropriate action to change the diet
- Eat a varied diet - everything in moderation to prevent the body developing a food allergy to a chemical in a food type taken in excess
- Adopt a supplement program and include a number of supplements in that program to prevent and heal your particular ailment
- Vitamins A & E help clean up free radicals from fried foods during the digestion process
- Saturated fat comes from animal and dairy products - this is the fat which should be limited in the diet
- Unsaturated fat comes from plants, nuts, seeds and fish - this is the healthier fat option for the body to cope with
- Magnesium, Omega 3, and Vitamins C & E reduce the risk of heart disease
- Protein contains 25 amino acids which are the building blocks of the body necessary for cell activities and muscle growth
- Protein is commonly found in foods like eggs, meat, fish, beans, broccoli and cheese
- Carbohydrates are a slower release fuel for the body and are found in foods like whole grains, rice, pasta, corn, vegetables and fruit
- Fibre is necessary for the health of the digestive tract and is commonly found in foods like fruit, vegetables, beans, seeds, cereals and grains
- Vitamin A, C & E are antioxidants and help purify the blood and body's cells
- Vitamin C & B Vitamins help turn food into energy for the brain and body - they activate enzymes to release fuel for cells
- Minerals are important for nerve and muscle activity - essential for healthy brain and organ function
- Antioxidant rich foods are foods like grapes, citrus, mustard, corn, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, onions and berries
- Antioxidant nutrients help one keep looking and feeling younger longer - in other words they are anti-aging nutrients
- Free radicals in abundance in the system due to a poor diet and vice are the reason for premature aging, organ failure and cancer
- Excess free radicals cause damage to the DNA of cells triggering the cells altered behaviour = cancer. Antioxidants are the best defence against cancer
- Deep breathing exercises improve immune system defence against free radicals/toxins in the body and clean out the lymph node system
- Immune boosting nutrients are Vitamins C, B6 & B12, Folic Acid and Zinc
- Nutrients good for bone and joint health are Vitamins C & D, Zinc, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Omega oils
- Excess stimulant (e.g. caffeine, nicotine), refined sugar, fat and protein intake adversely affects bone health
- Nutrients good for skin health are Vitamins A, C, D & E, Omega oils and Zinc
- Nutrients good for the brain are Omega oils/DMAE (fish oil), Glucose, Lecithin and Pyroglutamate
- Reducing or quitting intake of refined sugar, caffeine and Nicotine will improve brain function as free radicals and the state of stress in the body are reduced
- Excess intake of fast releasing refined sugars create a state of stress in the body (hyperactivity)
- An ongoing tense muscle status (e.g. between shoulder blades) consumes vital energy in the body
- For maximum energy have pure food and pure thoughts - a natural body can produce natural vital energy
- An optimum diet has a high intake of vitamins and minerals from natural foods, fibre, Omega oils, alkaline forming foods and slow releasing foods

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